Rise in quarterback injuries leading to drop in point totals for Big Ten games this season

The number of quarterback injuries in the Big Ten has increased this season, resulting in a decline in points scored during conference games. With three teams already firing their offensive coordinators, Nebraska's Matt Rhule expressed concern over the lack of offensive explosiveness. Sportradar data shows that games featuring two Big Ten teams have averaged 47.3 total points this season, marking the lowest season-ending average since 2023.

The only other league with lower scoring averages this season is the Mountain West Conference, with 45.5 points. The Big Ten once relied on running the football and strong defense, but the addition of four former Pac-12 teams has not translated to higher scoring games as expected. The drop in points scored this year may be attributed to the significant quarterback injuries, with key players like Oregon's Dante Moore and Ohio State's Julian Sayin failing to live up to expectations.

However, the league's defenses have generally improved, ranking in the top 10 in yards allowed per play in several instances.